Are Your Eyes Protected During Your Favorite Hobbies?

A 40-hour work week can be tiring and draining, so we often look to our hobbies to provide some necessary rest and relaxation. Whether it’s fishing, woodworking, sewing or gardening, a hobby allows us to express our true selves and spend time doing the activities we enjoy most.

Just as each hobby requires its own supplies, such as a fishing pole, whittling knife, needle and thread or lawn tools, most hobbies also require specific eye protection. Your eyesight is an invaluable resource and a precious gift, so take precautions to protect your vision while you engage in your hobby.

Safety Glasses

A quality pair of safety glasses is necessary for keeping flying objects out of your eyes. When you are casting out your fishing line, your eyes are vulnerable to the barbed hooks on the end of the line. Similarly, during woodworking, your vision could be damaged if bits of sawdust or debris are flung into your eyes. Protect your eyes with safety glasses made of durable polycarbonate. The lenses of safety glasses wrap around the eyes to protect your peripheral vision, and many designs have shields that protect above the eyes as well.

Reading Glasses

Sewing can be an incredibly relaxing hobby, but it can be stressful and exhausting if your eyes are strained. Threading needles or doing beadwork is tedious and can cause headaches, eye pain, red eye and eye irritation. A good pair of reading glasses or a magnifying glass can help you see more clearly so your eyes are not overworked. It is also important to use bright lighting when sewing or crafting because this decreases eye strain as well.

100% UVA/UVB-Protecting Sunglasses

Before you step into your flower bed or vegetable garden to weed, water or harvest, put on a pair of shades. Sunglasses are essential for protecting your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause oxidative damage and speed the development of cataracts and macular degeneration. Purchase sunglasses that offer 100% UVA and UVB protection so you can prevent eye damage.

Wearing proper eye protection ensures you can keep doing those meaningful hobbies that will give you pleasure for years to come. The final step in protecting your vision is to make yearly appointments with your eye doctor for up-to-date information regarding your eye health.